Senate to pass N58.47trn 2026 national budget March 17

The Senate has lined up a top-level meeting with the nation’s economic managers as it steps up examination of President Bola Tinubu’s ₦58.47 trillion 2026 budget proposal, with March 17, 2026, provisionally fixed for the bill’s final review and approval.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), disclosed this at a special committee meeting on Friday, noting that deliberations on the budget estimates at the committee level have been scheduled for February 2 to 13.

Adeola added that although the Senate initially planned to conclude passage of the budget by March 12, he persuaded the leadership to extend the timeline by one additional week.

He added that for meticulous scrutiny and consideration of the budget estimates, hard copies of the 2026 budget have been printed for chairmen and members of the various standing committees.

According to him, there would be a public hearing on the budget proposal on Monday, February 9, where an erudite Professor of Economics from the University of Lagos, Wasiu Adeoye would be guest speaker.

Also, Thursday, March 5 has been fixed for an interactive session between members of the committee and economic managers of the federal government like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of the National Revenue Service, Mr. Zacch Adedeji; etc

The chairman added that February 16 to 23 have been fixed for the submission of reports on budget defence by the chairmen of various committees ahead of report presentation by the committee to the Senate on March 17.

Members of the committee adopted the time table following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central) and seconded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) before the meeting was adjourned.